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Fume off!

Just like an episode of Mad Men, remember when you could smoke in restaurants, planes, buses, hospitals and anywhere else you pleased? Ah, they were the good old days. . . cough, splutter - not!

It took a long time for laws
to be introduced to prevent smoking in enclosed public places, but most of us
would agree it was the right thing to do.

This may sound a little OTT, but I'd like to see the same laws applied to the use of synthetic fragrance in enclosed spaces to minimise exposure to the toxic chemicals emitted from perfume.

Now, if you’re a diehard
perfume fan, hear me out.

You may love
how your perfume makes you feel, but have you thought about how it makes other people who come into close contact with you feel? Just a little whiff of
synthetic fragrance can trigger significant reactions ranging from
asthma attacks to headaches, chest tightness, wheezing, nausea and irritated
airways.

Synthetic fragrance
is one of the most frequently identified allergens. I know people who will
avoid coming in close contact with anyone they suspect is wearing perfume so as
not to trigger their allergies.

I don't know about you, but I have to hold
my breath if I walk through the perfume counter in a department store or in the cleaning aisle of the supermarket so as not
to get a headache, and don’t even get me started on women who wear strong
perfume or men covered in cologne or aftershave on planes or in lifts. If I go out on a date, and all I get confronted with is a toxic cloud, it's a deal breaker. Yucko!

And, it’s not just
perfume that makes people sick, either. It’s deodorant, fragranced hair and
body care products, cleaning products, air fresheners and laundry detergents. What also concerns me is young adolescents wearing stynx and repulse to try and allure the opposite sex instead of relying on good old pheromones.

All perfumed and fragranced products are made with a concoction of up to 200 or more chemical constituents, many of which haven't been proven safe for human exposure. Phthalates are used in 75 per cent of these products and have been
linked to disruption of the endocrine system, which can lead to a myriad of serious health
problems.

We absorb the chemicals in fragrances through
our skin, nose and mouth. Every chemical we inadvertently ingest has an effect
on the body. It has to filter out as many of the toxins as it can, but some are
harder than others to eliminate and some stick around and build up in our system over time. Our livers and kidneys are already burdened.

It's no wonder cancer and autoimmune
illnesses have become so prevalent. We're swimming in a sea of stinky stuff
and we've no idea what it’s doing to our health. Frustratingly, our
governments are reluctant to do anything about it.

Under
Australian law, the chemical components of a fragrance are considered a trade
secret and don't need to be disclosed. That means when you see the words
‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’ on a cosmetic or a skin care product, it could contain
any number of chemicals from a pool of more than 5,000 used by the beauty
industry.

Due to this
trade secret loophole, cosmetic companies can get away with putting a plethora
of potentially neurotoxic and carcinogenic chemicals into their products which
not only affects the user, but everyone within sniffing radius.

I think it
stinks that public health is compromised in order to protect corporate secrets.

I also think
it stinks that celebrities use their high public profiles to endorse synthetic
perfumes or bring their own perfume brands out just to rake in the big bucks.
There's no thought given to the effects on people’s health whatsoever. It’s
just all about money and image.

Being healthy
and happy and living a clean life in tune with nature does. If you like to have
a signature scent, use a tiny dab of certified organic essential oils. But remember, even
oils can be overpowering if you use too much.

If you use
Mukti Organics you’ll know all of our products are lightly scented using only
certified organic essential oils, which makes sense and gives you peace of mind as well.

Does synthetic
fragrance turn you off too? Share your experiences with us in the comments
section below.

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Hi, I'm Mukti, the founder and creator of Mukti Organics. My aim is to assist you in achieving beautiful, radiant skin without using products containing toxic chemicals. Certified organic skin care is better for you, your family and our planet. Click here to sign up and receive 15% off your first order. Signing up and commenting on our blog posts enters you into our bimonthly draw to receive $150 worth of products of your choice.